UMass, UK stem cell banks announce agreement

Tuesday

Mar 15, 2011 at 11:47 AMMar 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Gov. Deval L. Patrick and officials for the University of Massachusetts Human Stem Cell Bank based in Shrewsbury today signed an agreement with operators of a British stem cell bank to standardize stem cell distribution in the U.S. and the U.K.

The agreement came as the governor continues a 10-day foreign trade mission that brought him to Israel last week, and has him spending several days in London, before returning tomorrow.

The stem cell agreement, which officials said calls for the two stem cell banks to collaborate on standards for stem cell line characterization, production and distribution, is one of the first tangible results from the trade mission.

The signing followed Mr. Patrick's meeting with Glyn Stacey, director of the UK Stem Cell Bank at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control in Hertfordshire, England.

“This agreement is an important step toward advancing groundbreaking scientific research, developing life-saving cures and building the life science economy of the future in both Massachusetts and the UK,” Mr. Patrick said in a prepared statement released after the agreement was signed.

“Stem cell research has already led to exciting new developments in medicine and is at the forefront of the 21st century medical exploration. We are excited to play a critical role in that progress,” the governor said.

University of Massachusetts President-elect Robert J. Caret expected to begin work in Massachusetts this summer, joined the governor's trade mission and attended the agreement signing in England. He said the agreement is “a major step forward” for UMass and for researchers working in the stem cell field.